How to Promote Your Restaurant Loyalty Program

10 Effective Restaurant Loyalty Program Promotion Ideas

A great loyalty program is only as good as the number of people who actually use it. That’s why promoting it right is just as important as designing it well. The goal? Make it easy to discover, exciting to join, and rewarding to stay in.

From social media tricks to in-store placements and festival tie-ins, here are ten practical and proven ways to promote your restaurant’s loyalty program, without burning a hole in your pocket.

You must read: How to Choose the Right Rewards for Your Restaurant Loyalty Program

1. Use Social Media to Spark Curiosity

Instagram is where your customers hang out. They’re checking food pics, sharing stories, and tagging friends. It’s the perfect place to announce your loyalty program.

What you can do:

• Post a short, energetic reel showing how your loyalty program works
  
• Use Instagram Stories to walk customers through the benefits
  
• Run polls or “Did You Know?” stories to create curiosity
  
• Pin your loyalty post to your profile
  
• Use influencer marketing. Download a list of curated food influencers who perfectly align with your brand values. Access everything from contact details to audience demographics in one curated list.
  

Example:

Sea Salt Cafe made their announcement via Instagram Stories, showing real customers joining the program and redeeming rewards. It was fun, bite-sized, and resulted in 300+ sign-ups in the first week.

2. Make a Statement with Eye-Catching Standees

Sometimes, big and bold just work. When someone walks into your restaurant, you want them to feel like something exciting is happening.

What you can do:

• Place a tall standee at the entrance with messaging like:
  “Join Our Loyalty Program – Earn Points, Get Free Food!”
  
• Design it with bright visuals and a clear CTA (QR code works well)
  
• Change it up during festivals or promotions
  

Example:

Huddle and Score didn’t leave it to chance. They placed well-designed standees right at the entrance and added flyers on every table. Guests couldn’t miss the message: “Eat here, earn rewards.”

Also read: Step by Step Guide to Create A Successful Customer Loyalty Program

3. Tie Your Program into Seasonal Promotions

Festivals and special days already create buzz. Why not use that momentum to promote your loyalty program?

What you can do:

• Design limited-edition giveaways that double as loyalty invites
  
• Wrap festive items (like chocolates, napkins, and packaging) with loyalty messages
  
• Offer bonus points for joining during festivals
  

Example:

Buns to Burger did something clever on Valentine’s Day. They gave out heart-shaped chocolates wrapped in a message: “Be loyal to love (and burgers). Join our rewards program today.” It felt sweet, timely, and effective.

4. Add Table Standees to Reward Every Bite

Your customer is sitting down, browsing the menu, waiting for their food. That’s a perfect time to let them know they can earn points for every dish they order.

What you can do:

• Place neat little standees or table talkers on each table
  
• Keep the message short and clear:
  “Love burgers? Earn points for everyone. Ask us how!”
  
• Include a QR code they can scan while waiting
  

Example:

Perilicious used table standees with catchy one-liners and bright visuals. Guests were naturally drawn to it and asked the staff how it worked.

5. Empower Your Staff to Spread the Word

Your team interacts with customers all day. They can be your best promoters—if they know what to say.

What you can do:

• Train your staff on how the program works and how to explain it in 30 seconds
  
• Create a short script:
  “Did you know you can get points for this meal? Our rewards program is free and easy to join!”
  
• Add small staff incentives (e.g., “Sign up 10 customers, get a meal free”)
  

Friendly, confident staff can turn first-time diners into repeat customers.

6. Use WhatsApp and SMS to Reach Regulars

Sometimes, all your customer needs is a small nudge. A short message in their inbox can do the trick.

What you can do:

• Send a WhatsApp or SMS that reads:
  “We’ve launched our Loyalty Program! 🎉 Earn points on every order. Join today and get 50 bonus points. [Link]”
  
• Use this channel during off-peak hours for better visibility
  
• Follow up monthly with rewards updates or double point weekends
  

Pro tip: Use a platform that can automate this for you (more on that below).

7. Promote It During Billing

The moment your guest is paying is one of the best moments to introduce your loyalty program. They’re already spending—show them how to get more out of it.

What you can do:

• Keep flyers at the billing desk
  
• Train your cashier to say:
  “Would you like to earn points on this bill?”
  
• Offer something small for first-time signups—like a free drink or dessert on their next visit
  

It’s low effort and super effective.

8. Feature It on Your Menu

Your menu is one of the most-read items in your restaurant. Use it.

What you can do:

• Add a sidebar with a small note:
  “Love our food? Get rewarded for it. Join our Loyalty Program!”
  
• Highlight specific items with a loyalty note:
  “Earn 100 points when you order this!”
  

No redesign needed, just small additions to get attention.

9. Reward Delivery and Takeaway Orders Too

Customers who don’t dine in deserve love, too. Use packaging as a way to talk about your program.

What you can do:

• Add flyers or stickers to delivery bags
  
• Use fun copy like:
  “This burger could’ve earned you points. Join our loyalty program today!”
  
• Offer delivery-exclusive rewards to boost interest
  

10. Celebrate Your Loyal Customers Publicly

People love recognition. Use your social media to highlight real customers who are earning rewards.

What you can do:

• Share a monthly “Loyalty Hero” on Instagram
  
• Post customer shoutouts like:
  “@rohit just earned a free meal with his loyalty points!”
  
• Create mini contests like “Double Points Weekends” or “Tag us to earn extra!”

Make it social, fun, and rewarding, just like your brand!

Bonus Tip: Let the Right Tool Handle the Heavy Lifting

Tracking points, sending updates, managing campaigns, it sounds like a lot. But it doesn’t have to be.

Many restaurants today use CRM and marketing automation platforms with built-in loyalty management features. These platforms can:

• Track customer visits and spending
  
• Automate messages (WhatsApp, SMS, email)
  
• Manage reward redemptions
  
• Segment your customers to send personalised offers
  

A platform like Reelo is designed exactly for this. It helps you create and promote your loyalty program while also giving you insights into customer behaviour, campaign performance, and more. Think of it as your behind-the-scenes marketing engine that keeps everything running smoothly, without needing to hire extra people.

Final Thoughts 

Make Your Loyalty Program Feel Like an Invitation, Not a Push

At the end of the day, people love feeling appreciated. A good loyalty program does just that: it makes them feel seen, valued, and rewarded for choosing you over someone else.

But appreciation only works when it’s visible.

So don’t hide your program behind menus, QR codes, or in a quiet corner of your website. Talk about it, celebrate it, and make it part of your everyday customer experience.

Here’s your mini-checklist to start promoting right away:

✅ Announce it on Instagram
✅ Add standees at the entrance and tables
✅ Tie into festivals and seasonal moments
✅ Get your staff excited and involved
✅ Use WhatsApp, SMS and email to stay in touch
✅ Include it in delivery and takeaway orders
✅ Celebrate your loyal customers publicly
✅ Use a CRM tool like Reelo to keep it all organised

Your loyalty program can do wonders when people know it exists. So go on, shout it from the rooftops (or at least from your tabletops)!

About The Author

Priyalshri is a B2B SaaS content marketer who turns ideas into stories that stick. With a knack for simplifying the complex and making the simple unforgettable, she believes storytelling is the key to making marketing both entertaining and impactful.